Our community was recently invited to an open, wonderful, conversation. “A Community of Immigrants: Worlds Together, Worlds Apart” was moderated by an appellate judge. Two lawyers, the president of the FLOC (Farm Labor Organizing Committee) AFL-CIO, and the Lucas County sheriff presented facts and answered attendees’ questions, sharing facts and information.
Immigrants contribute to our local workforce in many ways — manufacturing, maintenance, transportation and farm industries. According to Ohio data, in 2023, 22% of Ohio’s physicians are immigrants serving rural communities such as ours. Immigrants comprised 5.1% of the Ohio’s population, paid $7.3 billion in taxes and provided $20 billion in spending power. (Source:https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/ohio/)
Many in favor of mass deportations think there are only two categories: “illegals” or citizens. However, there are several lawful immigration statuses: refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, temporary protected status holders, non-immigrant visa holders, and visa holders (permanent residents with green cards who may seek citizenship after 3-5 years).
Next is “undocumented” who either entered unlawfully, overstayed legal admission requirements, or lost lawful status due to crime and face deportation. The last status is American-born citizens.
Ignoring the nuances of status and labeling all newcomers as “illegals” is false and dehumanizing. When we humanize immigrants, we show that our approach is humane. The backlog to come here, from Mexico, with legal status is 20 plus years! The panel’s presentation of these facts elucidated the need for immigration reform over mass deportations.
As a person, an immigrant has full rights per our Constitution. Currently, most are denied due process. Without it, there is no evidence of civil vs. criminal offense nor proof of status. The government’s responsibility is to uphold our Constitution. Instead, they degrade it by:
• ordering ICE to enter private homes, businesses, and universities without a signed federal warrant with a specific person’s name.
• ordering masked ICE to abduct people from the streets.
• sentencing without due process.
• defying court orders to halt deportation flights.
• deporting those with lawful status (i.e. Abrego Garcia).
These unlawful acts are under the guise of “protecting” America. Lack of accountability for this lawlessness sets a precedent for all of us. Immigrants are the current scapegoats. We, the American people, are being groomed. Will we be loyal to our Constitution or to the current administration’s abhorrent whims?
If we choose the latter, every immigrant will be gone. The cost? Our democracy. Let’s set aside our biases for more real conversations.
Vicki Steensma
rural Defiance
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